Shirodhara: an extraordinary sensory experience
Having lived in Asia for many years, I was recently surprised when someone described an Ayurvedic therapy technique I didn’t recognise. Enjoying a growing popularity in expensive spas worldwide, Shirodhara – a combination of colour therapy, aromatherapy and Ayurvedic discipline – has several practitioners here, all of whom have been trained either in India or by visiting Indian therapists at Rosveda, the herbal beauty and healthcare specialists.
To give Shirodhara a real test, I should probably have been stressed out, toxic and exhausted but, as I seldom do those states nowadays, I took myself along for a taste of the ‘golden way to gain long life’ as described by Andri of Rosveda.
What is it supposed to do?
Shirodhara has traditionally been shown to help fatigue, mental exhaustion, anxiety: all conditions commonly affecting the modern generation. In Sanskrit, shiro means the head and dhara is the flow of warm liquid, so shirodhara = the flow of warm liquid on the head. It’s a simple, relaxing technique based on the pressure points of the head and the use of fragrant herb/flower oils for rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit.
According to Ayurvedic wisdom, the world is divided into doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. There’s no exact English translation but doshas can be regarded as vital energies that underlie everything we are and do. Keeping doshas in balance is the key element of Ayurvedic practice, which Shirodhara addresses, thereby alleviating symptoms like headache, poor digestion, skin problems and asthma.
The therapy is tailored to your individual dosha make-up, which is ascertained through a questionnaire you complete at the start. This determines the oils and the carrier liquid to be used: in my (pitta) case, a brilliant blue oil combination mixed with charged water as the delivery agent. At Rosveda, the session begins with a cleansing facial massage which, although not part of the traditional therapy, prepares you for the next event: the dhara. I relished the pampering, from the scrub application to the deeply luxurious moisturising and nutritional massage to face and neck, leaving me smelling deliciously of orange and honey.
What benefits does it claim?
Traditionally Shirodhara stimulates the sixth and seventh chakras – a word roughly translated as reservoirs of energy. Six is the Third Eye or Wisdom Centre, linked to the brain, particularly to the pituitary gland and nervous system. An imbalance may manifest in headaches, ENT problems, hormonal disturbance, insomnia and depression. The seventh or Crown chakra is linked with the brain’s emotional centres and also the pineal gland which produces melatonin, essential for healthy sleep and for those suffering with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Rebalancing these two energy reservoirs helps overcome stress and all its far-reaching side effects including anger, anxiety, hormonal and mood disorders. It may heighten the senses, activate memory and invigorate the body and mind.
Is there any science behind it?
Shirodhara does not rely on western scientific traditions as a basis or proof of its efficacy. It is almost impossible to give ‘scientific’ explanations for an oriental teaching as ancient as this; Ayurveda is the most widely-used healthcare system in India and is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a principal healing discipline.
What’s it like?
Restful, relaxing and most unusual. Prone and comfortable, I enjoyed the sensation of the oils dripping on my forehead, together with the rhythmic splashing of the liquid as it flowed into the collection vessel afterwards. The aroma of the oils – blue chamomile, vetiver and camphor – was powerful and I felt quite ‘other-worldly’, as if I had in fact journeyed subconsciously. After half an hour of dhara, I had to work hard to bring myself back to the present and experienced a feeling of deep relaxation and wellbeing, which lasted for over 48 hours. My skin looked immediately radiant, smoother and with fewer wrinkles. I think this would be a marvellous therapy for those suffering from stress and associated symptoms like skin and digestion problems.
Where and how much?
Rosveda-trained therapists are available at: Veramedica Medical Centre, Paphos, Tel: 26 271700; Constantinos Fowles, Larnaca, Tel: 99 987208; Agapi’s Beauty Salon, Oroklini, Tel: 24 646057; Therapeutical Centre, Nicosia, Tel: 22 757538; Monika Peridou, Limassol, Tel: 99 433446; Daria Aquilina, Limassol, Tel: 99 183432; Bella Maria Beauty Salon, Limassol, Tel: 99 656458. A Shirodhara session lasts up to two hours and costs around £30.
